Cayamo 2016 Highlights (Partial List):
Sunday, January 31:
– Martin Harley and Sam Lewis : The cruise started with a set by these two on the Pool Deck stage. Martin Harley played some nice lap/Weissenborn guitar and resonator guitar on his own (among other songs, Martin sang “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”) and backing up singer Sam Lewis. Sam Lewis also sang a Willie Nelson song (see setlist.fm for list of songs)
* Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit really got things started with their 4:00 PM Sailaway Show. One of the best live Americana / rock bands out there. They ended their set with a great performance of “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” by The Rolling Stones (video is on YouTube)
* John Hiatt and The Combo were one of the headliners this year, and performed three ticketed shows in the Stardust Theater. Dave Ranson (bass), Kenneth Blevins (drums), Doug Lancio (guitar), Brandon Young (backing vocals, tambourine, guitar tech). They ended with a band version of “Have a Little Faith In Me” (a song Hiatt used to perform solo) and “Memphis In The Meantime” with a slight lyric modification to mention Blake Shelton instead of Ronnie Milsap for the “But I don’t think ___’s gonna ever record this song” line in the song.
* Steve Earle (solo) (Stardust Theater, 8:00 PM show)
Steve Earle was on the ship this year to do two duo shows with Shawn Colvin. But he also did one solo acoustic show on the first night, which was excellent and included many of his best and most loved songs (“Devil’s Right Hand,” “Guitar Town,” “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied,” “My Old Friend The Blues,” “Someday,” “Goodbye” (introduced as ‘same girl, different harmonica’), “Valentine’s Day,” “Tom Ames’ Prayer,” “God Is God,” “Galway Girl,” “Copperhead Road” and a few surprises along the way, including “Billy Austin” which is not as well known or played as often.
– Sugar and The Hi-Lows
* The Watkins Family Hour : great band including Sara Watkins, check them out (more detailed notes to be added soon)
Monday:
Slaid Cleaves
Johnnyswim
* Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
* John Hiatt & The Combo
** Buddy Miller Band with special guests!
more detailed notes to be added soon
Tuesday:
David Bromberg Band
John Fullbright (band)
Watkins Family Hour (Tuesday pool deck show)
EDIT: I also should have mentioned The Black Lillies performing a cover of the David Bowie song “Five Years” in their first Atrium show (Tuesday night in the Atrium): my video is on YouTube in the BrianMillerConcerts channel. And also there was a Grateful Dead tribute later that night on the Pool Deck stage (Tuesday midnight into the wee hours of Wednesday morning) featuring many of the singers from the cruise.
more detailed notes to be added soon
Wednesday:
– Hurray for the Riff Raff
– David Bromberg Band with guests Larry Campbell (guitar, pedal steel), Daniel Walker (keyboard, accordion), Nancy Josephson (backing vocals)
highlight: “Kaatskill Serenade” (with Larry Campbell on pedal steel)
highlight: “The Strongest Man Alive” (a cappella) followed by instrumental tune(s) (Larry and Nate: fiddles; Mark and David: acoustic guitars)
* Paul Thorn (electric rock band show) (Pool Deck show, 8:15 start)
one of my favorite sets of the week
covered Elvin Bishop (What The Hell Is Going On)
covered Buddy Miller (Shelter Me)
rocked!
funny chat in between songs!
Mississippi accent
– Amanda Shires (with Jason Isbell, guitar and backing vocals) (10:33-11:43 PM)
highlight: set ended with their cover of “Mutineer” by Warren Zevon
– Mullins “Family” Jam (Bar City, late night)
included performances by Shawn Mullins Band with guests Chojo Jacques and Daniel Walker; Robert Ellis (with Davis Causey, Chojo Jacques, Daniel Waker, Tom “Panda” Ryan); open mic winner Mark ___;
Thursday:
* John Fullbright (band) (Pool Deck show, 6:00 PM)
highlights included:
– guest: Davis Causey (electric guitar player from the Shawn Mullins band)
– cover song: “Deportee” by Woody Guthrie
– cover song: “Lungs” by Townes Van Zandt
– cover song: “The Letter” by The Box Tops (different arrangement, rocked!)
* Andy introduced the Wash Washy singers (“Washy Washy,” “I Want To Wash Your Hands,” “Spray You Spray Me”)
* The Black Lillies (Pool Deck show, ~8:30 PM start)
highlights included:
– “Smokestack Lady” and “Ruby” back to back for dancing fun
– “Hard To Please” with guest saxophone player (from Mingo Fishtrap band)
– cover of “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield
* Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin (duo) (Stardust Theater, 10:00 PM show):
highlights included:
* cover of “Wake Up Little Susie” by The Everly Brothers
* cover of “Ruby Tuesday” by The Rolling Stones
* duet on the Steve Earle song “Someday”
* new songs including “You’re Still Gone” (cowritten by Steve, Shawn, and Julie Miller) and “Tell Moses”
* Robert Ellis (band) (Stardust Theater, midnight show):
highlights included:
* brand new songs from an upcoming album, sounded good
* some of the great songs from his last album, including “Only Lies,” “Chemical Plant,” “TV Song,” “Bottle of Wine,” and “Sing Along”
Friday:
* Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams (with Jeffrey Hill: bass, Justin ??: drums)
highlights included:
* guitar cover of “Caravan” (introduced as a tribute to banjo player Bill Keith) (with Nate ____ on fiddle (from David Bromberg band)
* Tear This Building Down
* Long Black Veil (The Band) (Larry: mandolin)
* Big River (Johnny Cash) (Larry: electric guitar, Nate: fiddle)
* Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (Teresa: vocals; with Nate)
– Jerry Steel and Buddy Miller Band recording session (Bliss Lounge, 3:30 PM)
– Buddy’s high school friend; Buddy Miller, Ian Fitchuk, Larry Campbell, Dave Jacques, ___ ___ (drums)
– recorded song “At The End Of A Long Weary Day”
– Foy Vance (Atrium, 4:30 PM)
highlight: cover of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (Randy Newman song from a Pixar movie)
* “Lucinda Williams and Hurray For The Riff Raff Unlikely Duo” (Stardust Theater)
Lucinda Williams, Alynda Lee Segarra, Stuart Smith (guitar), Jordan ___ (guitar)
highlights included:
* “Passionate Kisses” (Lucinda, Stuart)
* “The Body Electric” (Alynda, Jordan)
* “I Ain’t Got No Home” (Woody Guthrie song) (with missing verse about Old Man Trump)
* “Jambalaya” and “People Talking” (duets)
* Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit (Stardust Theater, 10:00 PM Show):
highlights included:
* ended with a great cover of “Like A Hurricane” by Neil Young. The 400 Unit sounded like Crazy Horse for this song. wonderful.
* Jason introduced “Stockholm” with a story about an audience in Sweden that was arms-crossed for other songs, but went crazy for “Stockholm”. After the song, he told a joke that the Nordic countries are like The Black Crowes: they love everybody except themselves.
* “Never Gonna Change” rocked, and featured a duel between electric guitars played by Jason and Sadler
* Jason dedicated “Speed Trap Town” to the Pearl ship’s staff and crew
Saturday:
* Shawn Mullins (band) (Stardust Theater, 12:45pm- )
guest musicians: Chojo Jacques (fiddle), Chardy (congas), Daniel Walker (keyboard, accordion), Larry Campbell (mandolin)
* cover of “The House of the Rising Sun” (with Larry, Chojo)
* 9-timer Cayamo passengers entered in bathrobes during the last song (need a little sunshine)
* Paul Thorn (“acoustic” band show) (Stardust Theater)
* “Moonlight Revival” show: Jim Lauderdale, Steve Earle, Shawn Mullins, Angaleena Presley
more notes to be added soon
